Armchair Psychology refers specifically to a speech pattern that is overly passive. Many people out there seem to think it applies to attempts at applying psychology without the training to do it properly.

2)After reading that, I have know idea what the trope is about. I think it's supposed to be a Self-Demonstrating Article....but is failing. Also, it seems like the original writer has issues. A clear description of what their talking about would help. It's supposed to be a description of a speech patterned used to convey insincerity, but it's hard to tell exactly what it is from the description.

A better description of what it is would help coming up with a name. Every name I can think of is related to the meaning(False Friendly Speech or something), rather than the actual speech pattern described, so a new name seems prone to misuse in that way.

What a horrible misnaming, especially considering that the term Armchair Psychology has a well-established meaning outside this wiki that has nothing to do with the passive questioning-via-comment style the trope is defined as.

...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.

In my experience, Septimus's definition of "Armchair X" is pretty close to exact. I'd say "claiming expertise" rather than "pretending expertise," personally, but that's a fairly minor difference. It also has the connotation of "learned everything they know about <X> in an armchair (that is, by reading about it or watching tv), so much of what they know is oversimplified or wrong."

edited 17th Jun '13 5:49:55 AM by Madrugada

...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.

I think "claiming expertise" is a bit too strong. It's not like it's fraud or anything. There's no lying involved. It's just talking like you're an expert, and perhaps judging people who are experts, without any practical experience or training yourself.

1) Could one argue that the described trope is how armchair psychologists talk, and therefore the name is appropriate? (Not advancing it; just suggesting the only possible argument I can think of for the current name.)

2) Do we want to create a proper armchair psychology (or even more generalized armchair expert) trope, since no one's pointed out one so far in this thread?

There's three directions this trope is heading in, and they're only vaguely connected. Probably because of the terribly nonspecific description. (It doesn't count as definition)

Direction 1- Alice tries to get Bob to express his feelings. "And how does that make you feel?". A valid psychology technique, often misused and mocked in fiction.

Direction 2- Alice plays the victim when Bob talks to her, interpreting what he says to be hurtful and untrue. This is like Mother in Tangled, and a bit like Umbridge. A technique of forum "debate" as well.

Direction 3- Alice is really creepy because this is the audio version of Stepford Smiler. This is also Umbridge, where she refuses to teach any actual spells for dark arts, and instead teaches "communication". Most likely direction 2 type.

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